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Portrait ofSophie Berg

Sophie Berg

Partner

CMS DeBacker
Chaussée de La Hulpe 178
1170 Brussels
Belgium
Languages French, Dutch, English, Swedish

Sophie is a partner in the Employment and Pensions department. She practices various aspects of labour and social security law (both contentious and non-contentious).

In addition to assisting clients in the day-to-day management of human resources (recruitment and redundancies, remuneration policies, working conditions and working time arrangements),  Sophie advises many national clients on complex transactions such as restructurings (reorganisation of activities and collective redundancies), social aspects following mergers and acquisitions (due diligence, disclosure or “information” and consultation, negotiation and harmonisation of working conditions, complementary measures following the acquisition, etc.) and social consultation.  

Sophie has also dealt with numerous issues on privatisation or restructuring of public entities. Sophie has developed strong expertise in labour law aspects and social and parafiscal aspects of the collaborative economy.

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"Sophie Berg is always very hands-on, open and transparent."

Chambers Europe, 2023

"Her advice is always very clear and pragmatic, allowing the business to make decisions."

Chambers Europe, 2023

"Sophie Berg and Gaël Chuffart both stand out for their legal expertise, reactivity and pragmatism."

Feedback from a client, Legal 500, 2022

Relevant experience

  • Advising a leading newspaper distributor on the reorganisation of the company, including closing a department and collective dismissal
  • Advising various companies on the introduction of new work organisation systems, in particular work duration and flexibility (e.g. the introduction of 24h/7 day working schedules in a company active in the food sector)
  • Assisting a bank group with the transfer and integration of employees within the scope of C.B.A. 32bis
  • Advising a European cement industry group on the social aspects connected to the restructuring of its business
  • Assisting various international groups on the social aspects of a cross-border merger
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Publications

  • S. BERG, « Comment soulager les entreprises terrassées par les prix de l’énergie ?», L’Echo, 30/08/2022. 
  • S. BERG, Arrêt « Syndicat CFTC » : congé supplémentaire de maternité et discrimination », Journal de droit européen, 2021/7.
  • S. BERG, G. DE SAUVAGE, V. FREMAT & J-F. GOFFIN, Réorganisation judiciaire : le livre XX du Code de droit économique et la CCT n° 102 annotés, Limal, Anthemis, 2020, 592 pages.
  • S. BERG, G. DE SAUVAGE, V. FREMAT & J-F. GOFFIN, Continuïteit van ondernemingen, Artikelsgewijze commentaar bij Boek XX WER en CAO nr. 102, Antwerp, Intersentia, 2018, 540 pages.
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Lectures list

  • July 2021: “Employment Status and the Gig Economy: International Perspectives”, ELA (Employment Lawyers Association), under the chairmanship of Tarun Tawakley 
  • October 2020: “La réorganisation judiciaire : derniers développements et perspectives”, Anthemis,under the chairmanship of Alain Zenner 
  • June 2020: "Restructurations à l’heure du coronavirus - Licenciements individuels, multiples et collectifs, fermetures et faillites, transferts d’entreprise", Comeos seminar
  • April 2020: “Lockdown in practice: what is the concrete impact on the individual and collective labour relations?” ; webinar
  • March 2020: “Licenciement des travailleurs – cas particulier des travailleurs protégés et des malades de longue durée”, Comeos seminar
  • March 2020: “Key employment considerations in the framework of the covid-19 pandemic”, webinar
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Education

  • 2005 - Bar admission (Brussels, Belgium)
  • 2005 - University of Ghent, UGent (Master European Law)
  • 2004 - University of Louvain, UCLouvain (Law Degree)
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Feed

31/01/2024
On your radar | Issue 23
Key employment law developments and expected trends for 2024
26/10/2023
CMS Belgium advised Howden Belgium on the acquisition of WDR Insurance...
CMS Belgium played a crucial role in advising Howden Belgium's acquisition of WDR Insurance Group, specialist in property, casualty, and employee benefits, catering to a diverse clientele that includes...
06/09/2023
On your radar | Issue 22
Key employment issues to be aware of internationally
06/09/2023
On your radar | Issue 22
Key employment issues to be aware of internationally
29/06/2023
CMS advised Kereis in connection with the acquisition of a majority stakeholding...
CMS Belgium advised Kereis, the Europe’s largest insurance broker for specialist credit-related life insurance, backed by Bridgepoint, in connection with the acquisition of a majority stakeholding in...
06/06/2023
ESG Legislation : CSRD - Whistleblowing & Impact on D&O’s
Join us on Tuesday 6 June in our offices. At Howden Belgium and CMS, we are committed to providing up-to-date information on legal and insurance topics. On Tuesday 6 June, from 5.30pm to 9pm, we are...
16/05/2023
CMS Belgium assisted a.s.r. in the set-up of a joint venture with Belfius'...
CMS Belgium assisted a.s.r., the third largest insurer in the Netherlands, in setting up a joint venture together with Belfius' insurance subsidiary. The joint venture involves the launch of the technology...
15/05/2023
On your radar | Issue 21
Key employment issues to be aware of internationally
15/05/2023
On your radar | Issue 21
Key employment issues to be aware of internationally
16/04/2023
ACC Europe Annual Conference 2023
CMS - Meet our Experts
22/02/2023
CMS Belgium advised the Czech rolling stock manufacturer Skoda Group on...
CMS Belgium advised the Czech rolling stock manufacturer Skoda Group on the acquisition of TheSig­nalling­Com­pany (TSC) from Lineas and ERTMS Solutions. TSC develops and produces signalling systems and...
06/12/2022
CMS assisted Quantessence in obtaining regulatory approval in Belgium
CMS Belgium, CMS UK, CMS Prague and CMS France assisted leading financial technology platform, Quantessence, in relocating and obtaining regulatory approval as a MiFID investment firm in Belgium, allowing...